The Watt Hour

What powers your phone, aircraft, satellites, robots, and modern infrastructure? In this first episode of The Watt Hour for 2026, American Lithium Energy’s Chief Strategy Officer, William Hadala, breaks down the true foundation of modern energy storage—the lithium-ion battery cell. This episode covers:What a battery cell really is (and why it matters)A simple history of lithium-ion technologyHow b...

The next war won’t be decided by missiles—it’ll be decided by batteries. From drones and directed-energy weapons to satellites and submarines, every system depends on stored energy. In this episode, we break down why U.S.-made battery cells are more than just components—they’re strategic assets. Learn how domestic production defines mission readiness, why foreign-made cells are becoming a liabilit...

In Episode 19 of The Watt Hour, host William Hadala takes you on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of American Lithium Energy's cutting-edge 18650 battery cell manufacturing facility. Discover how America is reclaiming energy independence through advanced lithium-ion battery production—engineered specifically for defense, aerospace, robotics, and mission-critical applications. Watch as raw m...

Episode 17 of The Watt Hour explores “The Golden Dome”—a planet-scale security fabric powered by Made-in-USA energy storage, microgrids, and edge AI. We break down NATO flashpoints, the drone threat, counter-UAS defenses, and why 5th/6th-gen warfighters teamed with collaborative autonomous aircraft, vessels, and ground systems will define deterrence across land, sea, air, space, and the electromag...

In this episode of The Watt Hour , host William Hadala sits down with Tanner Yackley, a former MQ9 UAV sensors operator and founder of Remote Warrior LLC. Tanner shares his journey from flying over 1,000 combat missions to transitioning into academia and launching a nonprofit that supports veterans. Together, they explore the evolution of UAV and drone technology, the critical role of battery and...

In Episode 15 of The Watt Hour, we explore how in-situ logistics and additive manufacturing technology are redefining energy, defense, and space applications. From lunar regolith to disaster-zone materials, this episode uncovers how localized production, 3D printing, and advanced robotics will power resilient supply chains, accelerate space exploration, and transform how we think about sustainabil...

In this episode of The Watt Hour, we dive into geothermal energy—Earth’s unseen power grid—and how it can transform the future of clean energy, AI, and national security. By combining geothermal baseload power with American Lithium Energy’s advanced lithium-ion batteries featuring SafeCore and Zero Volt technology, and HyperEdgeX immersion-cooled micro data centers, we explore a resilient, decentr...

In Episode 13 of The Watt Hour, William Hadala explores why hyperscale AI data centers could break the internet—and why the future belongs to decentralized Edge AI. From the lessons of mainframes and telecom to the urgent sustainability challenges of today, we reveal how companies like American Lithium Energy, HyperScaleX, and GridEdgeAi are rewriting the rules. Discover how edge computing, renewa...

In Episode 12 of The Watt Hour, we take you inside American Lithium Energy (ALE)—who we are, what we do, and why our story matters for the future of defense and aerospace. From 20 years of breakthrough R&D to scaling Made-in-USA manufacturing, ALE is delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries with unmatched safety, reliability, and performance. Learn how our technologies like SafeCore and Zero...

In Episode 11 of The Watt Hour , we sit down with Russ Van Der Werff to explore the groundbreaking technology of High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). We discuss how these aircraft deliver global connectivity, surveillance, and defense capabilities from the stratosphere, the integration of advanced battery cells and packs into their airframes, and the power needed for long-endurance missions. Dis...

Discover how delivering military capabilities as a service is transforming defense readiness, speed, and innovation. In this episode of The Watt Hour, we explore how the Department of Defense can shift from traditional procurement to agile, outcome-based models—leveraging advanced battery technology, unmanned systems, space-as-a-service, and private sector innovation. Learn how American Lithium En...

In the 21st century, wars won’t be fought just with steel and fire — they’ll be won with electrons. Delivered at speed. Stored safely. Deployed wherever the mission demands. In this episode of The Watt Hour, I break down how energy storage has become a strategic weapon on tomorrow’s battlefield. From directed energy systems to UAV swarms, exosuits, and autonomous platforms — every mission now depe...

Episode 8 – Securing the Skies: Powering Drones and Defending America with U.S. Battery Manufacturing explores the urgent need for domestically produced lithium-ion batteries to support America’s drone warfare and national defense strategies. Host William Hadala breaks down why UAS, ISR drones, and electric air vehicles rely on high-performance battery packs—and why these systems must be Made in t...

In Episode 7 of The Watt Hour, we take you on a journey that begins with the raw power of lithium and extends all the way to the stars. Titled “Powering Our World—From Lithium to the Stars,” this episode explores how advanced lithium-ion battery technology is not only transforming life on Earth but enabling humanity’s push into space. We break down how lithium powers everything from electric vehic...

In this powerful episode of The Watt Hour, host William Hadala joins Eugene Jansen to examine the fast-changing world of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in modern combat, with a sharp focus on lessons from the Ukraine conflict. From surveillance to precision strike capability, UAVs are now central to military strategy. This episode explores the critical role of logistics, energy density, rapid cha...

🎸 From Rock Legends to Test Engineering – this episode of The Watt Hour takes you on a powerful journey with Tony King, whose career spans from backstage with The Beatles, Elton John, and Poison to today’s cutting-edge work in electronic test systems at Q1 Test. Hosted by William Hadala and cohosted by Ken Thompson of KTTS, this conversation dives into the electrifying world where music, innovati...

“From cables to combat-ready drones — the future is electric, and it’s Made in the USA.” In this episode of The Watt Hour, we sit down with Ken Thompson, CEO of KTTS and manufacturer’s rep for American Lithium Energy (ALE). Ken unpacks how KTTS helps build the world’s most advanced autonomous systems — from custom cable assemblies and electronics to battery cell integration for UAVs, drones, direc...

The Watt Hour – Episode 3: Steve Pignato | Standard Fluids for HPC, Data Centers, and BatteriesIn this episode of The Watt Hour, we sit down with Steve Pignato, President of Standard Fluids, to explore the critical role of dielectric fluids in powering the future of high-performance computing (HPC), liquid immersion cooling for data centers, and thermal management in next-gen battery systems. Stev...

In this full episode, I sit down with Marcus Rossi, former U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Colonel and now CEO of Primordis, to explore how AI-powered battery management systems are reshaping energy solutions across land, sea, air, and space. We cover: 🔋 Cutting-edge AI energy management 🌐 Cross-domain applications from tactical systems to space 🎖️ Marcus’s journey from military command to deep tech leade...

In our debut episode, host William Hadala, VP of Business Development and Strategy at American Lithium Energy, sets the stage for The Watt Hour — a podcast dedicated to the innovators shaping the future of energy, aerospace, defense, robotics, and advanced technologies across land, sea, air, and space. In this episode:The vision behind The Watt HourWhat to expect in upcoming episodesWhy energy sto...